Scenario 1: It's Friday—you've finished work, you're in East London, and all you want to do is relax and unwind with your pals. It's time for a drink... okay, we mean drinks.
Scenario 2: It's Monday—you've had a crud day and you're in need of a seriously good happy hour to perk you up.
Whatever the case, we've found your next favorite drinking locale. Having sipped our way across many a stellar bar, we've become quite the connoisseurs around the watering-hole circuit. And now you can be, too. Below, the places to hit up if you find yourself hankering for a quality cocktail.
Barrio East
The happiest kind of happy hour in East London (aka it runs every day), Barrio East knows how to create a good drunk. All you need to know: £5 mojitos, caipirinhas, and margaritas.
Love Shake
"Eat, drink, and surf" is the mantra at this tiny milkshake shack in Hoxton. It sounds so innocent but when happy hour hits, two beers for £5 can transport you to Sloshed Town in quick haste. The understated American-themed shack does amazing spiked milkshakes, but if you’re in the market for beers, it’s a great spot for meeting friends, i.e. the cheapest rounds you're going to get in the area. Fortunately, it's in stumbling distance of multiple transport stations.
Andina
Like Pisco? Love Andina. We're calling it the home of London’s Pisco Sours. Whilst it might not have a happy hour, it delivers elsewhere with a more eclectic list of cocktails than elsewhere and a food menu that will leave you salivating—just maybe try the sea bass ceviche before all the Pisco; we’re not sure how well it would go down afterward. Best yet, if you’re feeling sore-headed in the morning, we're calling its fresh green juices miracle cures.
Hoi Polloi
Whilst we might be slightly biased, our fellow Ace Hotel resident, Hoi Polloi, is a damn good shout for drinks. Just as much it is a place to be seen as it is a place to go see, pretty much everything about it is cool, including the crowd, long craft beer list, plugs in the seating booths for charging your gadgets, and the waiters and managers all sporting Nike Airs. Looking for a nightcap? Hoi Polloi is our best bet.
East London Liquor Company
If you're looking for something a little different (and don't mind a little walk), check out East London Liquor Company in Bethnal Green, which is a fully functioning liquor company bringing the craft spirits distillery back to the heart of London town. Being that it's out of the way, expect less crowds and a more relaxed vibe, along with a brilliant view of the distillery process behind the bar. Head over for a fine cocktail or an ELLC G&T, and couple it with a cured meats board perhaps?
5CC at the Well & Bucket
You’ll walk into this pub on Bethnal Green road and wonder what all the fuss is about. Until you go downstairs, that is. Slip down the stairs at the side door and arrive at 5cc, an intimate cocktail bar, which is guaranteed to be buzzing whatever time you go. Pull up a stool at the bar or grab a cozy corner at the back if you’re with a date before perusing the excellent cocktail list. For a more unusual drink, Smokey Tommy was our favorite with smoked Mscal, lime, and agave. It’s fair to say one won’t be enough.
Discount Suit Co
Scenario 2: It's Monday—you've had a crud day and you're in need of a seriously good happy hour to perk you up.
Whatever the case, we've found your next favorite drinking locale. Having sipped our way across many a stellar bar, we've become quite the connoisseurs around the watering-hole circuit. And now you can be, too. Below, the places to hit up if you find yourself hankering for a quality cocktail.
Barrio East
The happiest kind of happy hour in East London (aka it runs every day), Barrio East knows how to create a good drunk. All you need to know: £5 mojitos, caipirinhas, and margaritas.
Love Shake
"Eat, drink, and surf" is the mantra at this tiny milkshake shack in Hoxton. It sounds so innocent but when happy hour hits, two beers for £5 can transport you to Sloshed Town in quick haste. The understated American-themed shack does amazing spiked milkshakes, but if you’re in the market for beers, it’s a great spot for meeting friends, i.e. the cheapest rounds you're going to get in the area. Fortunately, it's in stumbling distance of multiple transport stations.
Andina
Like Pisco? Love Andina. We're calling it the home of London’s Pisco Sours. Whilst it might not have a happy hour, it delivers elsewhere with a more eclectic list of cocktails than elsewhere and a food menu that will leave you salivating—just maybe try the sea bass ceviche before all the Pisco; we’re not sure how well it would go down afterward. Best yet, if you’re feeling sore-headed in the morning, we're calling its fresh green juices miracle cures.
Hoi Polloi
Whilst we might be slightly biased, our fellow Ace Hotel resident, Hoi Polloi, is a damn good shout for drinks. Just as much it is a place to be seen as it is a place to go see, pretty much everything about it is cool, including the crowd, long craft beer list, plugs in the seating booths for charging your gadgets, and the waiters and managers all sporting Nike Airs. Looking for a nightcap? Hoi Polloi is our best bet.
East London Liquor Company
If you're looking for something a little different (and don't mind a little walk), check out East London Liquor Company in Bethnal Green, which is a fully functioning liquor company bringing the craft spirits distillery back to the heart of London town. Being that it's out of the way, expect less crowds and a more relaxed vibe, along with a brilliant view of the distillery process behind the bar. Head over for a fine cocktail or an ELLC G&T, and couple it with a cured meats board perhaps?
5CC at the Well & Bucket
You’ll walk into this pub on Bethnal Green road and wonder what all the fuss is about. Until you go downstairs, that is. Slip down the stairs at the side door and arrive at 5cc, an intimate cocktail bar, which is guaranteed to be buzzing whatever time you go. Pull up a stool at the bar or grab a cozy corner at the back if you’re with a date before perusing the excellent cocktail list. For a more unusual drink, Smokey Tommy was our favorite with smoked Mscal, lime, and agave. It’s fair to say one won’t be enough.
Discount Suit Co
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Opening Ceremony
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Bjarne Melgaard
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Exclusive looks from the Patrik Ervell Spring/Summer 2015 collection. All photos courtesy of Patrik Ervell 
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Aleali May
Dev Hynes, Samantha Urbani, and Kelela
James Goldstein 
Susie Bubble
Nicola Formichetti 
Nick Wooster and Michael Hainey 
Heron Preston and Ruth Gruca
Bjarne Melgaard (right) and friend 
